Risk-targeted behavioral activation for the management of work disability associated with comorbid pain and depression: a feasibility study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the feasibility and impact of a risk-targeted behavioral activation intervention for work-disabled individuals with comorbid pain and depression. METHODS: The design of the study was a single-arm non-randomized trial. The sample consisted of 66 work-disabled individuals with comorbid pain and depression. The treatment program consisted of a 10-week standardized behavioral activation intervention supplemented by techniques to target two psychosocial risk factors for delayed recovery, namely, catastrophic thinking and perceptions of injustice. Measures of pain severity, depression, catastrophic thinking, perceived injustice, and self-reported disability were completed pre-, mid-, and post-treatment. Satisfaction with treatment was assessed at post-treatment. Return to work was assessed at 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: The drop-out rate was 18%. At treatment termination, 91% of participants indicated that they were "very" or "completely" satisfied with their involvement in the treatment program. Significant reductions in pain (Cohen's d = 0.71), depression (d = 0.86), catastrophic thinking (d = 1.1), and perceived injustice (d = 1.0) were observed through the course of treatment. In multivariate analyses, treatment-related reductions in depression, catastrophic thinking, and perceived injustice, but not pain, contributed significant unique variance to the prediction of return-to-work outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Risk-targeted behavioral activation was found to be an acceptable and effective intervention for work-disabled individuals with comorbid pain and depression. The findings suggest that interventions targeting psychosocial risk factors for pain and depression might contribute to more positive recovery outcomes in work-disabled individuals with comorbid pain and depression. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT0517442 . Retrospectively registered.

The temporal relation between pain and fatigue in individuals receiving treatment for chronic musculoskeletal pain.

BACKGROUND: Numerous investigations have revealed significant relations between pain and fatigue in individuals with persistent pain conditions. However, the direction of influence between pain and fatigue remains unclear. Shortcomings of design and analytic approaches used in previous research limit the nature of conclusions that can be drawn about possible causal or directional relations between pain and fatigue. The present study investigated the temporal relation between changes in pain and changes in fatigue in individuals with musculoskeletal pain enrolled in a 10-week behavioral activation intervention. On the basis of previous findings, it was hypothesized that analyses would support a bi-directional relation between pain and fatigue. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 104 individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain participating in a 10-week standardized rehabilitation intervention. Measures of pain intensity and fatigue were completed pre-, mid-, and post-treatment. The three-wave data panel permitted examination of the direction of influence between pain and fatigue through the course of the intervention. A random-intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) was used to examine the temporal relation between pain and fatigue. RESULTS: Consistent with previous research, cross-sectional analyses of pre-treatment data revealed significant correlations between measures of pain and fatigue. Significant reductions in pain and fatigue were observed through the course of treatment (d = 0.33 and d = 0.66, p < .001, respectively). RI-CLPM revealed that pain severity predicted later fatigue (pre to mid-treatment standardized path coefficient (ß) = 0.55, p = 0.02; mid to post-treatment ß = 0.36, p = 0.001); however, fatigue did not predict later pain severity. CONCLUSIONS: Discussion addresses the processes that might underlie the temporal relation between pain and fatigue. Clinical implications of the findings are also discussed.

The relation between perceived injustice and symptom severity in individuals with major depression: A cross-lagged panel study.

BACKGROUND: Perceived injustice has been associated with problematic recovery outcomes in individuals with debilitating health conditions. However, the relation between perceived injustice and recovery outcomes has not been previously examined in individuals with debilitating mental health conditions. The present study examined the relation between perceived injustice and symptom severity in individuals undergoing treatment for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). METHODS: The study sample consisted of 253 work-disabled individuals with MDD who were referred to an occupational rehabilitation service. Participants completed measures of depressive symptom severity, perceived injustice, catastrophic thinking, pain and occupational disability at three time-points (pre-, mid- and post-treatment) during a 10-week behavioural activation intervention. RESULTS: Regression analysis on baseline data revealed that perceived injustice contributed significant variance to the prediction of depressive symptom severity, beyond the variance accounted for by time since diagnosis, pain severity and catastrophic thinking. Prospective analyses revealed that early treatment reductions in perceived injustice predicted late treatment reductions in depressive symptom severity. LIMITATIONS: The study sample consisted of work-disabled individuals with MDD who had been referred to an occupational rehabilitation service. This selection bias has implications for the generalizability of findings. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that perceived injustice is a determinant of symptom severity in individuals with MDD. The inclusion of techniques designed to reduce perceived injustice might augment positive treatment outcomes for individuals receiving treatment for MDD.

Reductions in Fatigue Predict Occupational Re-engagement in Individuals with Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders.

Background Symptoms of fatigue have been shown to be associated with heightened levels of disability in patients suffering from a wide range of debilitating health and mental health conditions. The role of fatigue as a determinant of work disability in individuals with work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMD) has received little attention. The present study examined the role of fatigue as a determinant of work-disability in individuals with WRMDs. Methods Participants included 117 individuals with WRMDs who completed measures of pain severity, fatigue, depression and disability before and after participating in a behavioral activation rehabilitation intervention. Results Cross-sectional analyses on pre-treatment measures revealed that fatigue contributed significant variance to the prediction of self-reported disability, beyond the variance accounted for by pain severity and depression. Prospective analyses revealed that reductions in fatigue through the course of treatment predicted occupational re-engagement following termination of the intervention. Conclusions The results of the present study suggest fatigue contributes to occupational disability, independent of the effects of pain and depression. The findings also suggest that meaningful reductions in fatigue might be achieved through psychosocial interventions that promote gradual re-integration into discontinued activities, increase participants' exposure to success and achievement experiences, and reduce the severity of depressive symptoms. Behavioural activation interventions such as the one used in the present study might contribute to more positive occupational outcomes in work-disabled individuals who report high levels of fatigue.

Assessing catastrophic thinking associated with debilitating mental health conditions.

PURPOSE: The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Symptom Catastrophizing Scale (SCS). The SCS items were drawn from the Pain Catastrophizing Scale but were modified to make them better suited to the context of debilitating mental health conditions that are not necessarily associated with pain. The number of items was reduced from 13 to 7, and the response scale was simplified. METHODS: The SCS was administered to individuals diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) (N = 79) or with a chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) condition (N = 88). RESULTS: Exploratory factor analyzes revealed single factor solutions of the SCS for both the MSK and MDD samples. The internal consistency of the SCS was good. The SCS was significantly correlated with measures of pain severity, depressive symptom severity and disability in both samples. Individuals with MDD scored higher on the SCS than individuals with MSK. The SCS was shown to be sensitive to treatment-related reductions in catastrophic thinking. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary analyzes suggest that the SCS is a reliable and valid measure of symptom-related catastrophic thinking associated with debilitating mental health conditions. Implications for Rehabilitation Although catastrophic thinking has been identified as a risk factor for disability, current assessment tools are not well suited for individuals with debilitating mental health conditions. This paper describes a brief assessment instrument that can be used to assess catastrophic thinking in individuals with debilitating mental health conditions. The results of this study suggest that targeting catastrophic thinking might yield reductions in symptom severity and disability in work-disabled individuals with major depressive disorder.

The Relation Between Catastrophizing and Occupational Disability in Individuals with Major Depression: Concurrent and Prospective Associations.

Background Catastrophic thinking has been associated with occupational disability in individuals with debilitating pain conditions. The relation between catastrophic thinking and occupational disability has not been previously examined in individuals with debilitating mental health conditions. The present study examined the relation between catastrophic thinking and occupational disability in individuals with major depression. Methods The study sample consisted of 80 work-disabled individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) who were referred to an occupational rehabilitation service. Participants completed measures of depressive symptom severity, catastrophic thinking and occupational disability at admission and termination of a rehabilitation intervention. Return-to-work outcomes were assessed 1 month following the termination of the rehabilitation intervention. Results Cross-sectional analyses of admission data revealed that catastrophic thinking contributed significant variance to the prediction of self-reported occupational disability, beyond the variance accounted for by depressive symptom severity. Prospective analyses revealed that reductions in catastrophic thinking predicted successful return to work following the rehabilitation intervention, beyond the variance accounted for by reductions in depressive symptom severity. Conclusions The findings suggest that catastrophic thinking is a determinant of occupational disability in individuals with major depressive disorder. The findings further suggest that interventions designed to reduce catastrophic thinking might promote occupational re-integration in individuals with debilitating mental health conditions.

Psychosocial factors related to return to work following rehabilitation of whiplash injuries.

INTRODUCTION: The present study examined the effects of pain chronicity on the responsiveness of psychosocial variables to intervention for whiplash injuries. METHODS: Participants (N = 75) were work disabled patients with a diagnosis of Whiplash Grade II and were clients in a 10-week community-based, psychosocial intervention aimed at facilitating return to work. Individuals were classified as subacute (4-12 weeks; N = 25), early chronic (3-6 months; N = 25), and chronic (6-18 months; N = 25). Patients in the three groups were matched on sex (13 men, 12 women) and age (+/-2 years). Patients completed measures of pain severity, self-reported disability, pain catastrophizing and fear of movement at pre-treatment, mid-treatment and post-treatment. RESULTS: Return to work rates were 80, 72 and 32% for the subacute, early chronic and chronic groups, respectively. Individuals in the chronic group, compared to individuals in the subacute or early chronic groups, had significantly more elevated pre-treatment scores on measures of pain catastrophizing, F(2, 74) = 9.6, P < .001, and fear of movement, F(2, 74) = 3.4, P < .05. The magnitude of treatment-related reductions in catastrophizing, fear of movement and pain intensity was comparable across groups. However, individuals who were absent from work for more than 6 months showed the least amount of change in self-reported disability through the course of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that self-reported disability is particularly resistant to change as the period of work disability extends over time. The findings emphasize the importance of early intervention and the need to develop strategies that specifically target disability beliefs in patients with whiplash injuries.